Despite working their entire lives to achieve a dream that has denied countless others, fighters oftentimes forget that being a professional athlete is a blessing in itself.
It doesn’t matter whether they’ve fought in the UFC, Pride, Strikeforce, WEC, Dream or Bellator. There are very few human beings on this planet blessed with the ability to do the things that these guys can do.
In every gym strewn across the world, there are dreams waiting to be achieved or denied. There is also natural talent that will make it to the big show but will never reach its full potential.
Ralph Marston, author and publisher of The Daily Motivator, once said, “There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don’t allow yourself to become one of them.”
In any sport, talent can only take a person so far. They need the drive, hunger and motivation to succeed.
MMA is known for its grueling training regimen and dieting, which sometimes takes a toll on even the most disciplined of athletes. Still, these are things a fighter has to endure if he or she ever hopes to reach their full potential.
Here are 10 fighters who should have taken their careers more seriously.